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Police clear suspect in attempted child abduction

MT. JULIET – A Mt. Juliet mom said a man tried to lure her young daughter into his car Sunday afternoon, but the person of interest’s intentions were later determined to be misunderstood, according to police.

MT. JULIET – A Mt. Juliet mom said a man tried to lure her young daughter into his car Sunday afternoon, but the person of interest’s intentions were later determined to be misunderstood, according to police.

Police responded to the 200 block of Ridgeview Preserve Drive on Sunday at about 3 p.m. after receiving a call about a suspicious person.

Upon arrival, officers spoke with a mother who said a white male made unusual conversation with her daughter when she was playing outside.

The man spoke to her 8-year-old daughter and asked her to get in his car. The mother, who saw the car near her daughter, yelled for her daughter to get away from him.

As the man was leaving the neighborhood, he yelled to the mother that her daughter did the “right thing.”

On Tuesday, however, Mt. Juliet investigators located the person of interest in the case. After hearing and watching the various media reports on the incident, police said the subject realized he could possibly be the person of interest and contacted investigators.

According to Sgt. Tyler Chandler, no criminal charges were filed after an investigation revealed the subject’s intentions were misinterpreted.

The man was described as a middle-aged white male with gray hair. He was driving a gray newer-model Chevrolet Malibu or Impala. The car had extra antennas mounted on the exterior and a dog kennel in the back seat area. In addition, he had a dog with him.

“Parents should always be aware of where their children are and teach them what to do around strangers,” said Chandler. “The mother in this incident was nearby and supervising her daughter. She noticed something did not seem right and immediately called the child to her.”

For information on child safety and prevention, visit the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children’s website at missingkids.com/safety.